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The Bhava Lagna |
| By Juliana Swanson |
| The Bhava Lagna is an alternate (Visesha) Lagna or Ascendant, which can be used to fine-tune the analysis of a horoscope. It is a concept briefly described in Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra and in Jaimini Sutram (Upadesa Sutra). Shri Parashara discusses it along with the Hora and Ghatika Lagnas. Most Vedic astrologers don�t use the Bhava Lagna, and some believe that the concept of it is mistaken. The shastra explains how to calculate it but not how to evaluate it. So what�s the story on the Bhava Lagna? What is it exactly? Let�s start by discussing what the Bhava Lagna isn�t. First, I am not talking about the Lagna of the Bhava Chart here. The Bhava Chart is a unique chart in Vedic astrology in which the Lagna is set for 15 degrees in advance of the Janma Lagna (JL) so that the Bhava Chart�s first house has placed the Rising Sign/Ascendant/Janma Lagna in the middle of the house. There are two kinds of Bhava Charts: 1) the Equal and 2) the Unequal (Sripati or Chalit Chakra). This is a vast topic we will leave for another discussion. Next, the Bhava Lagna isn�t the Janma Lagna (JL), the main Rising Sign/Ascendant used to mark the first house of the (Whole Sign) Rashi Chakra in Vedic astrology. This main Ascendant or simply �Lagna� or JL is the point of the intersection of the eastern horizon and the ecliptic or Sun�s path. This is taken at one�s birth in Natal Astrology or at the inception of an event in Electional Astrology (Prasna or Muhurta). The JL is based on the ellipse of the curve of the earth in relation to the Sun, and it does not change exactly in two hours. This is because of the phenomenon called �Signs of Long and Short Ascension.� The latter exist due to the obliquity of the ecliptic, in mid-latitude regions, where the angle between the horizon and the ecliptic varies hour after hour, causing some signs to move across the ascendant faster than others. The faster moving signs are called Signs of Short Ascension, and the slower-moving signs are called Signs of Long Ascension. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Signs of Short Ascension are Capricorn to Gemini, with Pisces and Aries being the shortest. In the Northern Hemisphere, Signs of Long Ascension are Cancer through Sagittarius, with Virgo and Libra being the longest. This condition is reversed in mid-latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere. In the Rashi Chart, the zodiac is arbitrarily divided into twelve segments called signs or rashis. Each is said to extend a full 30 degrees, but again, due to variables of Short and Long Ascension, the signs do not rise in equal timespans. For instance, on June 21, 2015 and into early morning of June 22, 2015, here is the breakdown of rising times for all the sidereal signs in Washington, DC, USA, through a 24-hour period beginning with Aries and ending with Pisces: 1. Aries: 2:10:19 AM to 3:34:09 AM (1 hour and 23 minutes and 50 seconds) 2. Taurus: 3:34:09 AM to 5:23:57 AM (1 hour and 49 minutes and 48 seconds) 3. Gemini: 5:23:57 AM to 7:41:17 AM (2 hours and 17 minutes and 20 seconds) 4. Cancer: 7:41:17 AM to 10:11:13 AM (2 hours and 29 minutes and 56 seconds) 5. Leo: 10:11:13 AM to 12:30:34 PM (2 hours and 19 minutes and 21 seconds) 6. Virgo: 12:30:34 PM to 15:09:10 PM (2 hours and 38 minutes and 36 seconds) 7. Libra: 15:09:10 PM to 17:39:37 PM (2 hours and 30 minutes and 27 seconds) 8. Scorpio: 17:39:37 PM to 20:04:13 PM (2 hours and 24 minutes and 36 seconds) 9. Sagittarius: 20:04:13 PM to 22:05:32 PM (2 hours and 1 minute and 19 seconds) 10. Capricorn: 22:05:32 PM to 23:38:19 PM (1 hour and 32 minutes and 47 seconds) 11. Aquarius: 23:38:19 PM to 00:57:41 AM (1 hour and 19 minutes and 22 seconds) 12. Pisces: 00:57:41 AM to 2:10:19 AM (1 hour 12 minutes and 38 seconds) So you can see from this list that the Rashi Lagna/JL is always moving at an uneven rate around the zodiac, following the actual physical elliptical movement of signs. On the other hand, the Bhava Lagna (BL) is based on a concept rather than on physical reality; it represents the symbolic construct of a circle of equidistant signs or houses in which one house or sign spans exactly two hours. Shri Parashara explains the calculation as follows: �From sunrise to the time of birth, every five ghatis [or 120 minutes] constitute one Bhava Lagna. Divide the time of birth (in ghatis, vighatis, etc.) from sunrise by five and add the quotient to Surya�s longitude as at sunrise. This is called Bhava Lagna.� In Studies in Jaimini Astrology, BV Raman describes how to calculate the BL: ��the sign arrived at by counting N+1 places from the Sun or Janma Lagna according to whether it is an odd or even sign; n=an integral quotient arrived at by dividing birth ghatis by 5 and remainder reduced to degrees gives exact longitude of the Bhava Lagna.� Fortunately for those like me who are not too keen on mathematical calculations (plus, who has time?), we have software programs! In the charts below, I have used Kala software, and the Bhava Lagna is shown in the category marked �Special Lagnas� near the bottom of the �Tables� section in the program. All Vedic astrology software programs calculate this along with other alternate Lagnas. The BL may be ahead of or behind the JL, and they can be several houses apart, but usually they are in the same house. Renowned Vedic astrologer Pt. Sanjay Rath stated in an article titled Indu Lagna and Janma Lagna, published on Scribd, that �Bhava Lagna will indicate the personality of the native in the etheric level, showing the constitution of his aura, the dominant colors in it.� I have also learned that the BL represents the individual�s higher essence and inner personality as a reflection of fixed design, whereas the JL is more representative of one�s outer expression in relationship to the world. Some astrologers have conjectured that if the BL is in a house apart from the JL, the deeper purpose of life and the sense of self may not correspond to what is shown by the JL, but this is quite subjective and I have not been able to find a consistent thread to be able to say this is always true. In some cases it seems to be true, and related to this incongruence there often can be some deep ongoing struggle to adapt and adjust oneself to the circumstances of life. However, many who have the JL and BL aligned also experience similar struggles, so a great deal more research is needed. The way I work with the disconnected BL and JL is to see them as representing inner (BL) and outer (JL) realities, and I blend them as such. Aspects and conjunctions of grahas and arudha padas with the BL, along with its house, sign, nakshatra and dispositor placements, can add additional flavor to chart analysis. Here are a few examples of how I work with charts in which the JL and BL are not aligned: 1. The late Roman Catholic Saint Padre Pio�s natal chart has Libra JL (a friendly, diplomatic and humanitarian sign) but the BL is Scorpio 2H ruled by Mars in the 8H which speaks to unusual mystical powers like bilocation; extraordinary healing gifts exhibited during his life and also posthumously; the dreadful physical and psychological karmic suffering he experienced; as well as rare manifestations of the holy spirit such as in his stigmata.  2. One of the greatest and most famous and superficially successful psychic astrologers of all time was Jeane Dixon, whose chart has Taurus JL (worldly success and renown), but the BL is Pisces 11H where Ketu is also located, and this reflects her immense prophetic ability which she always attributed to God, which was the foundation of her worldly success, as well.  3. Tiger Woods has Virgo JL (0 degrees/sandhi-cusp), and perhaps to some he can seem quite docile, and this seems like a weak ascendant as it is sandhi. However, his inner nature is governed by a BL in Leo, Magha nakshatra, which though in the 12H is still a powerful nakshatra which relates to dominion and power. Also it is interesting that Leo holds the 3P and 10P (arudha padas of the third and tenth houses) indicating his career in sports. The 12H placement might reflect how he has lived much of his life in a confined place (the golf course), and also literally in his �secret life� and �not-so-secret� relationship struggles.  A client of mine has Leo JL with Pluto, and many see him as having a powerful and outgoing persona, but in actuality he is within himself quite reserved and an introvert, having BL in Cancer 12H. He has had many struggles with his self-image throughout life. Another client who is a healer has Scorpio JL but HL is Sagittarius 2H conjoined Ketu. She is often misunderstood by others, as well; that is, she is perceived in a very different light from the way she sees herself. (Charts not shown) I have several charts of clients who struggle with serious mental illness, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. One with unremitting schizophrenia has Virgo JL with fairly strong and auspicious chart lord Mercury, but the BL is Libra ruled by a very weak Venus in a planetary war with Jupiter. His overinflated sense of self is vastly out of touch with his behavior and the way others perceive him. Another client with bipolar disorder has Cancer JL sandhi/0 degrees, but exalted Moon is aligned with the BL in the 11H in Taurus, and she has been able to overcome her illness. There is, however, some ongoing difficulty with self-esteem. (Charts not shown) I hope this article has sparked your interest in the Bhava Lagna enough that you will do some research on it yourself! Shri Parashara states that if two or all of Bhava Lagna, Hora Lagna, and Ghatika Lagna are receiving a drishti from exalted grahas, a Raja Yoga is formed. This is something to look at when you see a chart for great success, especially when you cannot understand on surface why there is such success. Though this article does not address details of the Hora and Ghatika Lagnas, do keep this dictum in mind for further studies.
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